Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 4110, the "Veterans
Programs Enhancement Act of 1998." It is particularly appropriate on
this Veterans Day to express the Nation's continued gratitude to our
veterans by improving a wide range of veterans' benefits and programs.
I am particularly pleased that H.R. 4110 includes so many Administration
proposals.

Most important, the bill provides a 1.3 percent increase in
compensation payments to veterans with service-connected disabilities
and in dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of those
whose deaths were service-related. This increase, effective December 1,
1998, reflects the same percentage increase in benefits that Social
Security beneficiaries and veterans' pension recipients will receive.
Approximately 2.3 million veterans and over 300,000 surviving spouses
and children will benefit from this increase, which will ensure that the
value of their well-deserved benefits is maintained.

The bill also furthers the Nation's commitment to veterans who
served in the Persian Gulf War. In particular, it extends existing
authority for providing priority health care to Gulf War veterans
through December 31, 2001. In addition, the bill bolsters efforts by
the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Defense, and Health and Human
Services, with the help of independent scientific organizations, to
study and treat these veterans' illnesses in a scientifically sound and
effective manner. Furthermore, this legislation enhances outreach
efforts to Gulf War veterans and broadens the public's access to the
findings of federally sponsored research on the health consequences of
service in the Persian Gulf.

The bill contains a number of provisions to help veterans reach
their educational and employment goals. For instance, the legislation
expands veterans' options for entering on-the-job training programs and
meeting requirements for Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits. In addition,
the bill reinforces and expands an individual's right to return to a job
after military service, as provided by the Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act.

Other provisions revise veterans' pension and insurance programs.
For example, the legislation increases the special pension paid to
recipients of the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest military award.
Additionally, the bill provides increased assistance to certain veterans
with terminal illnesses by allowing them to receive a portion of their
life insurance benefits as "living benefits," helping them to meet
medical and living expenses during their time of special need.

The bill includes many other provisions to improve the quality and
effectiveness of VA services to veterans. One provision permanently
restructures and streamlines VA housing loan operations. Another
provision contributes to high-quality VA health care by authorizing the
Department to establish new educational benefits for certain categories
of health care professionals to help attract and retain the best
qualified employees.

This Nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to our veterans,
particularly those who have suffered disability or who made the supreme
sacrifice while defending our freedoms. Each Veterans Day, the Nation
makes a special effort to give thanks for and to honor the sacrifices of
veterans and their families. This comprehensive legislation further
expresses our gratitude to these brave men and women, not just on
Veterans Day, but every day. For that reason, I am privileged to sign
H.R. 4110 into law.